Page 149 of Wicked Prince of Frost

CHAPTER FORTY

VIOLET

Light shines against my eyelids.Squinting and blinking against the brightness, I push myself into a sitting position. Pressing the heel of my hand to my temple, I attempt to quell the thundering headache.

Everything feels different, yet as I look around my room, nothing appears to be out of place or changed.

Bear dashes from across the room and leaps onto the bed, sliding over the blankets and curling up on my lap. They are a bit too big and too heavy, but I appreciate the sign of affection, so I allow it. I pet the top of the demon’s head.

Strange, how they can look like every other wild demon, while managing to be rather cute at the same time.

The door slides open, and Iseul sticks her head in. Her face brightens when she sees me. “You’re awake.”

She turns to someone out in the hall, speaking too quietly for me to hear before entering and hurrying to my side. Her hands grip my shoulders as she looks me over several times with an expression of disbelief. When she’s satisfied, she drops onto the edge of the mattress with a heavy sigh.

“How are you feeling?”

Iseul doesn’t wait for an answer before her arms are around me, pulling me into a tight hug. Bear grumbles and wedges their way between us, becoming the center of the embrace.

Iseul pulls back. We share a smile.

Mine quickly fades. “My head is splitting,” I groan. “I feel like I nearly….” I trail off.

“What’s wrong? Do you feel like you’re going to be sick?” Iseul asks, noticing the change in my demeanor.

The pulse in my veins kicks up as everything comes back to me.

A demon. The one who cursed Joon and Arum.“The king, he?—”

“Is dead,” she finishes for me, holding up a hand. “His body was found a few hours ago. We were there for part of it, but Imugi filled us in on the rest of the details… including your bargain with the prince.”

I hold my breath.

“He broke the curse,” she answers my unspoken question.

Iseul has mentioned the king and the curse, but I can’t help but notice that she has not mentioned Joon. He is not here—if he were all right, then he would be. I know he would.

I am afraid to ask. Afraid to know the truth. But of the two, not knowing is far more unbearable. “Joon?”

There are so many questions tied up in that one word.

Where is he? Is he on his way? Is he hurt? Is he…

No!

He can’t be—he broke the curse.

A knock on the door has Iseul jumping to her feet. She hurries to answer as if she can’t get away fast enough.

Once again, she exchanges a few words with someone I can’t see. A moment later, she returns carrying a tray and setsit down on the bedside table. Pale tea fills a small crystal pot with a matching cup beside it. Next to that is also a shallow, wooden bowl containing something that resembles a dark broth.

Iseul hands me the bowl first and stands there, expectantly.

I hold it and return her stare.

“Drink.” She won’t tell me another thing until I do. She doesn’t need to say as much—it’s clear in her tone and body language.

I bring it to my lips and oblige. The mix of herbs combines to create an aromatic, earthy, yet bright flavor with a slightly bitter aftertaste.